VEGAN is the new black. Everyone from Beyonce to Stella McCartney, Ellie Goulding to Jennifer Lopez are doing it. Here's why you should give a plant-based diet a go, too

Veganuary is encouraging people to try following a vegan diet this January

A host of celebrities are saying goodbye to meat and dairy and giving a vegan diet a go.

And those wanting to see what all the fuss is about should sign up to Veganuary.

Veganuary is an accessible awareness month designed to encourage the vegan-curious, vegetarian, health conscious, or those people just looking to feel better, to take the pledge to try to live a vegan lifestyle for a month.

Launched in the UK in January 2014, Veganuary (pronounced vee-gan-uary) is supported this year by Nakd wholefoods as well as a host of famous comedic faces, Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan, Carl Donnelly, Andrew O’Neill and Michael Legge.

Sara Pascoe said, “I became vegan after trying it for a month and I was surprised at how much better it made me feel."

Here, the health experts from Veganuary reveal why you should sign up.

1. Great if you want to lose weight or slim down

When you cut out animal products you’ll find that it’s easier to stay slim as you’re not consuming high amounts of saturated fats from dairy and meat products.

2. It’s easier to get your 5-a-day

Never mind five, you can easily get double that on a vegan diet. Eating fruit and/or vegetables at every mealtime means that your diet will be much more nutritious than those making up a third (or less) of lunch and dinner with vegetables. Eating snacks such as N?kd bars also count as your 5-a-day, are totally delicious and vegan.

3. Vegans are healthier

Vegans and vegetarians typically have lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, lower body mass indexes, a lower risk of death from heart disease, and lower overall cancer rates. Science and research confirms that you don’t need meat to be healthy at all, in fact statistics point to quite the opposite.

4. Going vegan can improve your sports prowess, not impair it

What you may not be aware of is just how many great and successful athletes are vegan. You may not be familiar with the name, but Scott Jurek is recognised as probably the greatest ultrarunner (distances of 50, 100 and more miles) of all time. He has been a vegan since 1999 and has won most of the toughest long distance races in the world, and many of these on numerous occasions. You’re more likely to have heard of Carl Lewis but did you know that he’s vegan? One of the world’s greatest athletes, Carl attributes his dominant and record breaking performances of 1991 to being vegan.

5. Having a vegan diet boosts immunity and is anti-cancer

Since fruits and vegetables are rich in super nutrients and many have anti-oxidant purposes, they can bolster the immune system and help the body fight against disease.

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Singer Beyonce and fashion designer Stella McCartney eat vegan diets

6. Vegans are more beautiful

Vegans who consume a large amount of fruits and vegetables are feeding and nurturing the health of their skin, hair and nails meaning that they literally glow with health.

7. Plant-based diet can aid arthritis

Eliminating dairy consumption has long been connected with alleviating arthritis symptoms, but a new study by Karolinska University in Stockholm indicates that a combination of gluten-free and vegan diet is very effective in improving the health of those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

8. Boost your energy levels

On a vegan diet, you will find your energy is much improved. NFL star Tony Gonzalez has talked extensively about how swapping from an omnivore to vegan diet has helped him gain energy while playing at the top of his career in the NFL.

9. You’ll live longer

Several studies indicate that those following a vegan or vegetarian diet will live an average of three to six years longer than those who do not.